Can



A.FameBQ 19536. w 1 HOVEY CAN I Filed NOV. l5, 1952 ORNEY.

Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

The invention relates to cans and it has particular relation to a spice can, or the like, and a closure therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a can particularly adapted for spice or the likefnaving an improved closure for permitting discharge of spices either through a large opening or through a perforated portion of the closure and which also serves as a complete closure for the can when it is not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in closures for spice cans or the like, particularly of the polygonal type, which permits locating the discharge opening in ,a corner so that the contents of the can may be more easily discharged.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved measuring device by means of which the user may quickly obtain a measured amount of spices or the like from a can.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a can having a closure constructed according to one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the construction shown by Fig. 1, illustrating the closure element in a position different from the position shown by Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional vieW taken substan-V tially along line 3 3 of Fig; 2 and on a slightly larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and also on a slightly larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a can provided with a discharge opening in a corner thereof, and a measuring device constructed according to one form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, a can is indicated at it) and in the particular construction illustrated, it will be observed that the c an is of rectangular shape and, while various other shapes may be employed, the invention particularly is adapted for use in conjunction with a polygonal type of can. A rib Il extends around the upper wall of the can, as indicated at I3, and a discharge opening I2 is provided in one corner which is desirable as it is easier to discharge the contents of the can through an opening in a corner thereof. An elongated closure element i4 is pivotally secured by means of a pin or rivet I5 to the wall I3 adjacent the opening I2, and this pin passes through the closure element by means of an elongated slot I6. The construction is such that the closure element may be slidably moved longitudinally in aV direction parallel to the slot, and pivoted about `the axis of the pin I5. Preferably, one end of the closure element is provided with perforations I1 and the other end is non-perforated, as indicated at I8. Provision of the perforated and non-perforated portions permits sprinkling of spice through the discharge opening I2 when the perforated portion is thereover, while the no-n-perforated portion I8 acts as a complete closure for the discharge opening when it is desired to completely close the can. Since the closure element is elongated with the perforated and non-perforated po-rtions on opposite sides of the pivot I5, or in other Words, angularly relatedk with respect to the pivot, the element may also be disposed as shown by Fig. 1, leaving the discharge openingr completely open.

As best shown by Fig. 4, it is preferred to have 20' bowed and urged resiliently downward so that upon movement of either portion over the opening l2, it will tend to move slightly into the opening and maintain its position. The element may be manufactured by stamping it from sheet metal, and preferably the sides are bent'upwardly between the two'portions I1 and i8, as indicated at 2l), to provide finger'grips for manipulating the closure.

When it is desired to move the perforated portion over the opening I2, the element may be turned counter-clockwise from its position shown by Fig. 1, until the edge of the perforated portion engages the inner side of the rib Il on the edge of the can and as the element is continued in its` movement a sort of eccentric or camming movement will occur and the perforated portion moved along the rib toward the discharge: opening. When the element has been so turned that the perforated portion is over the discharge opening I2, the element may be slidably moved on the pin I5 toward the corner until such perforated portion is completely over the discharge opening as shown by Fig. 2. It is, of course, apparent that the non-perforated portion may be moved to the same position by moving the closure element in aY-reverse direction or by continued turning movement in either direction, in which event the ribs at either side of the discharge opening will act as camming elements.

In a construction of this character it is apparent that the closure element enables securing all of the; advantages of the conventional closure in the ordinaryY spice can, while at the same time locating of the discharge opening directly in the corner of the can. Furthermore, the construction prevents movement o-f either end of the closureV element outside of the edges of the can. It is,

of course, apparent that the user of the can may turn the closure element around the pin and simultaneously slide it on the latter so that with one curvilinear movement, which varies from a true circular movement, the perforated or non-- perforated portion may be moved over the discharge opening without making separated circular and sliding movements. Bowing of opposite ends of the closure element slightly and having them resiliently contacting with the wall I3, naturally insures a tight relation of parts although of course it should be understood that in a construction of this character, even though the connection is tight, it is relatively easy to, turn the closure element.

In the co-nstruction shown b-y Fig. 5, the opening in the can is slightly different from that shown by Fig. 1 in that its inner edge is substantially straight as indicated at 22. A spoonlike element 23 is adapted to be inserted in this opening to receive a quantity of spices or the like in the can and the shape of this spoon is such that an accurate quantity of spices will be received therein. A knob 24 or the like may be provided on the end wall of the spoon to facilitate insertion and removal thereof. When the spoon is in the can and the can is manipulated to fill it, it is apparent that upon removing the spoon, the straight edge 22 of the opening scrapes excess spice from the spoon to insure removal of 'the desired quantity. An opening of this character of course may be used instead of the moretrounded opening l2 shown in Fig. 1, and the Spoon may be used in conjunction with the type of closure shown by Fig. 1.

Although more than one form of the invention has been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a can having an anguiar wall, and a discharge opening in a corner portion, of a closure element for such opening having perforated and non-perforated portions, and means for movably securing the element to the wall for curvilinear movement, and Vsliding movement transversely of the path of curvilinearV movement. Y Y i 2. The combination with a can o1' the like having an angular wall, and havingA a discharge opening, of a closure ele-ment for the opening, and means for movably securing the element adjacent a corner portion of said can for movement ina curvilinear path across the opening and sliding movement transversely of the path of curvilinear movement.

3. The combination with a can, or the like, having an angular wall provided with a discharge opening in a corner thereof, of a closure element for such opening, means for pivotally mounting the element on the wall adjacent the corner and inwardly of the opening, and means forallowing a movement` of the element inwardly away from the comen other than that of the pivotal movement. Y Y

4. The combination with a can or the like having an angular wall provided with a discharge opening in a corner thereof, of a closure element for such opening, and means including an elongated slot and pivot element for securing Ythe closure element to the wall adjacent the opening.

`5. 'I'he combination with a can or the like having an angular wall provided with a discharge opening in a corner thereof, of a closure element for such opening and having perforated and nonperforated portions, and means including an elongated slot, and pivot element for securing the element to the wall adjacent the. opening.

6. The combination with a can or the like having an angular wall provided With an opening in a corner thereof which borders the corner edges and a rib around the corner edges, of a closure element having perforated and non-perforated portions, and means for so movably securing the element on the wall that either portion may be moved into a position over the opening an-d within and substantially in engagement with the rib.

'7. The combination with a can having an\ angular wall and having a discharge opening in a wall thereof, of a closure element for such opening, and means for movably securing the element adjacent a corner portion of 4said wall for movement in a curvilinear path and also sliding movement transversely of the curvilinear movement.

8. The combination with a can having an angular wall and a discharge opening in a corner portion of the wall, of a closure element for such opening, and means for movably securing the clement to the wall for movement in an eccentric path so that a portion of said closure element may be maintained Within the edges of the wall.

9. A can having a wall provided with angularly related edgesY defining a corner, an outwardly projecting rim along the angularly related edges, said wall having a discharge opening closely adjacent to such corner, a closure element for such opening, and means turnably and movably securing the element to the wall for movement in an eccentric path so that the closure can be turned between the rim portions at the corner.

10. The combination with a can having an end wall provided with a corner, a rim around the edges of the-corner and an opening in the end wall in the corner portion thereof, of a closure element movably mounted on the end Wall and having an end portion adapted to cover the opening,

said portion having side edges substantially corresponding to the shape of the rim so that the closure may be moved into covering relation to the opening and the edges of said portion of the cover may substantially fit against the corner portion of the rim, said-end wall and closure having cooperating surfaces for resiliently holding said closure in covering relation.Y

11. In combination with a can provided with an end wall having a corner and an opening in the corner, a single closure element having perforated and imperforate sections adapted selectively to cover said opening, and means movably connecting said element to the end Wall for movement from a position wherein one of said portions covers said'opening to a position wherein the other of said portions covers the opening.

12. In combination with a can provided with an end wall having a corner and an opening in the corner, a single closure element having perforated and imperforate sections adapted selectively to cover said opening, and means movably connecting said element to the end wall for movement from a position wherein one of said portions covers said yopening to a position wherein the other of said portions covers the opening, said end wall and closure element having cooperating surfaces adapted to resiliently retain the closure member in either of said positions.

WILLIAM L. HOVEY. 

